Evelyn Zaragoza

The Turnbull and Berejiklian governments and eight Western Sydney councils have today agreed a landmark Western Sydney City Deal - a co-ordinated plan designed to deliver long-term prosperity for the region.

This deal will deliver for Western Sydney:

· A North South Rail Link from St Marys to Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis via Western Sydney Airport

· A world-class Aerotropolis including Commonwealth-owned land at North Bringelly

· An Investment Attraction Office to attract investment to the Western Parkland City

· New planning regime for Western Sydney to cut development costs and boost housing supply

· A $150m Western Parkland City Liveability Program to deliver community facilities

· New STEM-focussed education facilities to train skilled workers needed for the Aerotropolis

· A plan to embed smart digital technology in the Western City

Rail

The Turnbull and Berejiklian Governments have jointly committed to the first stage of the North South Rail Link from St Marys to Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis via Western Sydney Airport.

The Turnbull and Berejiklian Governments have a joint objective of having rail connected to the Western Sydney Airport in time for the opening of the airport.

The two governments have agreed that they will construct the North South Rail Link as equal partners, each contributing 50 per cent of the funding.

Both governments will each commit $50 million for a business case on the full North South rail line to finalise a route and station locations, building on the evidence base of the joint Rail Needs Scoping Study, also released today. A market sounding process will test private sector interest in station developments and explore innovative financing solutions.

The North South rail line will help shape Western Sydney’s growth and support thousands of new jobs and homes for Western Sydney. It delivers on our commitment to build the Western Parkland City into Sydney’s third economic centre, adding much-needed rail capacity that will improve access to employment, education and services, including at the new Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis.

The NSW Government will also establish rapid bus services from the metropolitan centres of Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown to the Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis and to Western Sydney Airport before it opens.

Aerotropolis

The parties commit to delivering a world-class Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis to become Western Sydney’s advanced manufacturing, research, medical, education and commercial hub, benefiting from access to the Western Sydney Airport.

This will drive new investment and attract high value jobs to the region. Land owned by the Commonwealth at North Bringelly will form part of the Aerotropolis.

To enable development of the Aerotropolis an Aerotropolis Development Authority will be established with NSW and Commonwealth representation on the board

Investment Attraction

The NSW Government will establish an Investment Attraction office to coordinate the attraction of national and international investment to the Western Parkland City and the Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis. The Investment Attraction Office will be located in Liverpool.

Planning

There will be a new streamlined planning regime for Western Sydney, to be led by councils through a new Planning Partnership. Accelerated planning and uniform standards will reduce cost for development, boost housing supply and protect airport operations.

Liveability

A new Western Parkland City Liveability Program will provide grant funding to local governments to deliver community facilities and amenities that will enable new housing supply. The Turnbull and Berejiklian Governments will each contribute $60m and local councils will contribute $30m.

Education

New STEM-focussed secondary, vocational and tertiary education facilities will be established around Western Sydney Airport to train the skilled workers needed for the high-tech sectors to be established at the Aerotropolis, as well as to construct the airport and other major projects.

Technology

A 5G strategy for the Western City will be developed, with plans to implement a trial to be led by a telecommunications carrier.

Agribusiness Precinct

The NSW Government will commission a feasibility study into an agribusiness precinct for the Western Parkland City.

These City Deal commitments will help realise the aspiration of a 30-minute city for Western Sydney, bringing people closer to jobs, education and services to ensure this growing region, its economy and its residents thrive.

The City Deal sets out a comprehensive plan to seize the once-in-a-generation opportunity created by the Turnbull Government’s delivery of the $5.3 billion Western Sydney Airport. It will ensure that the people of Western Sydney see clear and tangible benefits as Western Sydney develops into an economic powerhouse.

This landmark deal will deliver investment, transport and jobs for Western Sydney.

The Western Sydney City Deal is a ground-breaking partnership between the Turnbull and Berejiklian Governments and local governments of Camden, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Penrith, Wollondilly, the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Fairfield.

The NSW Government will cap the number of gaming machines in higher-risk communities, including around Fairfield, Minister for Racing Paul Toole said today.

“Local community caps are an appropriate response to concerns that some areas have too many gaming machines. These areas will be capped at their current number, ensuring no additional machines can move into these areas,” Mr Toole said.

“A number of councils and community groups suggested caps and the NSW Government agrees this is the right thing to do in higher-risk areas.

“Local community caps are part of a package of reforms that represent the most significant changes to gambling regulation in NSW for a decade.

“The reforms include an overhaul of the Local Impact Assessment (LIA) scheme that regulates gaming machine movements. These changes will deliver more transparency, more community consultation and greater certainty for industry.”

The NSW Government will provide more information than ever before about gaming machines, with comprehensive activity and profit statistics available free of charge from today.

· More focused LIA assessments using ABS statistical zones, not council areas, and with a stronger emphasis on vulnerable areas;· Broader community consultation during the LIA process for longer periods;· Directing LIA community contributions through the Responsible Gambling Fund with a mandate that the money be spent locally;· A leasing scheme for gaming machines held by small hotels and clubs, providing a new pathway for them to go machine-free;· Streamlined regulation of clubs and tougher penalties for directors who do the wrong thing;· A tenfold increase in fines for wagering operators offering illegal inducements;· Post-employment cooling-off period for senior Liquor & Gaming NSW staff; and· Modernised regulation for casinos that is consistent between venues.

“These reforms follow extensive consultation and represent a reset of the way gambling is regulated in NSW. They recognise concerns about gambling harm, while focusing regulation on where there is real risk,” Mr Toole said.

The reforms come on top of changes in January to bolster the Responsible Gambling Fund to support responsible gambling and minimise the risk of gambling-related harm in the community.

Giving poor hygiene the flush: Australia steps up efforts to improve water sanitation

I am pleased to announce a new partnership between the Australian Government and the World Health Organisation.

This $5 million partnership will further embed water safety planning to deliver safe drinking water in the program’s four target countries: Bhutan, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. The program will assist those countries to prepare their own strategies to meet ambitious new global water quality benchmarks to improve people’s health and quality of life. The Partnership will also improve access to safe and sustainable WASH services in health care facilities leading to higher quality health care.

The new partnership builds on the previous WHO-DFAT Water Quality Partnership 2012 – 2017, which led to the implementation of water safety plans across 882 water systems in 15 countries, serving over 35 million people.

The partnership, along with existing efforts, will form part of the Australian Government’s contribution to tackling this significant global challenge. More than two billion people lack access to safe drinking water services and 4.5 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services.

The impact on children is particularly devastating, with nearly 1,000 children under five dying each day from diseases caused by poor sanitation, poor hygiene or unsafe drinking water.

Today, I will also open and deliver the keynote address at the fifth WASH Futures conference in Brisbane. This is the leading forum for experts and stakeholders from the Indo Pacific to share ideas and innovations while working towards universal access to WASH.

The conference will focus on collaboration in the sector. The Australian Government strongly believes collaboration and financial investment in the WASH sector saves and improves lives and contributes to stability, security and prosperity in our region.

Many of Australia’s achievements in the sector will be showcased during the conference.Our work in this area contributes tothe World Health Organisation’s vision of quality care to every pregnant woman and newborn throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period

An exhibition of European modern masters including Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky andCézannewill be presented alongside a major retrospective of internationally renowned South African photographer David Goldblatt when the Sydney International Art Series returns for its 2018-2019 season.

Minister for the Arts Don Harwin today announced the Australian-exclusive exhibitionsModern masters from the HermitageandDavid Goldblatt.

“The Sydney International Art Series, an initiative of the NSW Government via Destination NSW, brings the world’s most outstanding art exclusively to Sydney through two blockbuster exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia,” Mr Harwin said.

“The Sydney International Art Series is a major visitor drawcard for our State. Since its inception in 2010, the annual exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia have generated more than $134 million in overnight visitor expenditure for NSW and attracted more than 1.8 million attendees.”

Art Gallery of New South Wales Director, Dr Michael Brand,a member of theInternational Advisory Board of the State Hermitage Museumcreated in 1994 on the initiative of UNESCO,said highlights of the exhibition include Cézanne’sGreat pine near Aix, 1895/97; Picasso’sWoman with a fan,1908; Gauguin’sMonth of Mary1899; Matisse’sNymph and Satyr1908; Kandinsky’sLandscape 1913and Malevich’sBlack Square.

“An era of extraordinary change in the early 20thCentury saw modernists throughout Europe freeing themselves from tradition and imagining life in new ways. The work of these pioneers still resonates today,” Dr Brand said.

With a career spanning seven decades, photographer David Goldblatt is one of the greatest living photographers of our time, noted for his portrayal of South Africa during the rise and dismantling of Apartheid. With their intense human focus, his photographs offer powerful reflection and insight into South Africa’s turbulent history.

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia Director, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE, said, “David Goldblatt is a living legend of photography, and this exhibition is highly appropriate for the Sydney International Art Series, which brings the world’s most acclaimed international artists to Sydney. Visitors will discover an extraordinary artist whose documentary eye has not strayed from the complexities of his country of birth, but resonates with other global histories (including Australia’s) through striking and memorable photographs.”

Modern mastersfrom the Hermitageis at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from 13 October 2018 until 3 March 2019.David Goldblattis at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia from 19 October 2018 until 3 March 2019.

Parramasala, the flagship festival of Multicultural March, will transform Prince Alfred Square into a feast of colour, movement and sound this weekend.

Parramasala is a free, public celebration of the diverse and rich cultures in Sydney. The festival will offer entertainment, food, markets and music from over 40 different cultures in a vibrant and rich three-day celebration.

Highlights from the program include:

The Parramasala Welcome Parade will kick off the festival 7pm this Friday night with over 700-800 performers from a diverse range of cultures. The parade will make its way from Parramatta Town Hall to Prince Alfred Square, via Church St before being met by the Elders of Burramatta for the opening ceremony.

Grammy award-winning Saharan Desert rock group Tinariwen will bring their incredible live show to the festival stage on Saturday night alongside the Grammy award-nominated future-soul quartet Hiatus Kaiyote.

Market Street will come alive to celebrate all things street food, street rhythms, street music and street dance. Grab a plate and taste your way around the best of Sydney’s street stalls surrounded by colourful musicians and dancers.

Dreamgirls of Bollywood will present a celebration of all the colour, dance, energy and excitement of Bollywood. Featuring an all international cast, Dreamgirls of Bollywood traces through the iconic costuming and dance performances through the many years of Bollywood films.

Winners of Channel Nine’s Family Food Fight and passionate foodies, the Shahrouk Sisters, will make an exclusive appearance at Parramasala. The sisters will wow crowds with Middle Eastern cooking demonstrations live on stage, and will meet-and-greet culinary fans.

On stage at Riverside Theatres will be Masala Nights – World Dance Congress, showcasing some of the world’s best dancers, the show will take a journey across the globe through dance styles including tango, samba, salsa, classical dance, flamenco and more.